Unpacking Harper Holt
Author: Di Walker
Publisher: Walker Books Australia
ISBN: 9781760650599
RRP: $18.99
Format: paperback
Date of Publication: September, 2018
Ages: 11 years +
Reviewer’s name: Jayne Downes
Reviewer’s Job title: Library Manager
Reviewer’s School name: Kaikorai Valley College
How highly are you recommending this book? Highly recommended
Harper Holt is a teenage girl who has spent all her life living in different places because of her father’s job. At the start of the story she has just arrived to live in Melbourne with her mother, Helena and father Hugh; only expecting to stay for six months.
She is very close to her parents but now that she is at secondary school she is beginning to realise that she needs friends of her own age and all the moving around makes it difficult to maintain friendships. She is a keen dancer and enjoys going on bike rides.
When tragedy strikes, Harper is forced to grow up very quickly. She has to cope with the loss of her mother and settling into a new school as well as being the target of a bully.
Harper develops into a strong young woman with the help of wonderful friends. This is a very uplifting story and will appeal to intermediate and secondary students.